Comparison between theory and observation for the outer planets
Abstract
- bstract. The auto-covariance function of the differences between the observed and predicted ecliptic longitudes of Jupiter indicates that these residuals contain a trigonometric term of period 4520 days, compared with 4333 days for Jupiter's period, and amplitu e d'. .No currently known source of systematic error would account for such a period. The residuals for the other outer p Thets contain no period as marked as the 4520 day period in Jupiter. A secular increase in the eccentricity of 1/3 X 10-6 per century, together with a motion of the perihelion in the direction of Jupiter's revo- lution about the sun and amounting to 5" per century will, coupled with a term whose frequency is equal to Jupiter's mean motion, produce such a period. If such secular perturbations were produced by a constant anomalous acceleration of Jupiter, the magnitude of the acceleration required would be about times the Jovian centripetal acceleration. The data for the other outer planets are inadequate to either confirm or deny the existence of such an acceleration in their motion.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1959
- DOI:
- 10.1086/107915
- Bibcode:
- 1959AJ.....64..157K